Mamma Mia! recently marked its 22nd anniversary in the West End (it premiered at the Prince Edward Theatre on 6 April 1999, subsequently moving twice — first to the Prince of Wales, and then its current home, the Novello).
Mark Shenton confesses all about his top ten guilty theatrical pleasures
We’ve all got them: things we enjoy — sometimes mightily — that it’s just a little bit embarrassing to admit to liking. Like admitting, in my case, a massive passion for Selling Sunset, the real estate reality TV show set in the cramped offices of an LA boutique agency that sell houses to millionaires and billionaires. (But somehow seem to work cheek-by-jowl in a tiny office on Sunset Boulevard).
NEWS: Mamma Mia! heads to Harewood House for an open-air summer season
The musical Mamma Mia! will visit Harewood House in the heart of Yorkshire this summer from 13-30 August 2021 for audiences to enjoy the original stage show in the open air for the first time.
‘There really is nothing quite like it’: MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY – The O2 ★★★★★
Forget a four hour flight, airport transfers and the like because now Mamma Mia! The Party is whisking audiences straight into the heart of the Greek island of Skopelos – and all within London’s O2.
‘How can you resist it?’: MAMMA MIA! – Touring ★★★★
It’s not just one of us who was pleased to have Mamma Mia! back on the Edinburgh Playhouse stage – an air of expectation and excitement filled the entire auditorium for the show.
REVIEW ROUND UP: Chess at the London Coliseum
Chess is officially back in London, directed by Laurence Connor and starring Alexandra Burke, Michael Ball and Cassidy Janson. Here’s what the critics have been saying about it…
‘Bold & confident production well worth seeing’: CHESS – West End ❤❤❤❤
There’s no denying that the plot in Chess could, despite changes in this version, be better structured. But this is a show best enjoyed by sitting back and letting the music and staging blow you away. Overall, it’s a bold and confident production well worth seeing.
‘An evening of stunning musical theatre’: CHESS – West End ★★★★★
If you can get (or afford) a ticket, go and see Chess, if only because the score is unlikely to be played quite so sumptuously ever again. The whole production makes for an evening of stunning musical theatre.
‘Breathtakingly stunning’: CHESS – West End ★★★★★
The beauty and simplicity of Chess allowed the audience to enjoy the sublime orchestration and performances. It really is a beautiful visual delight which shouldn’t be missed in this short five-week run
‘The saving grace comes with a suite of strong performances’: CHESS – West End
It’s taken over 30 years for Chess to return to the West End (though it was seen at the Union in 2013) and though it has a huge amount of resource thrown at it in Laurence Connor’s production for English National Opera, it doesn’t necessarily feel worth the wait.
NEWS: fresh cast and booking extension for London’s Mamma Mia! as show celebrates 19th birthday
The hit musical Mamma Mia! is celebrating the show’s 19th birthday in London today (Friday 6 April) by opening a new booking period from 22 October 2018 to 2 March 2019 and announcing some major cast changes from 1 June 2018.
NEWS: Full cast announced for revival of Chess at the London Coliseum
The full cast has been announced for the first West End production of Chess since 1986 which stars Michael Ball as Anatoly, Alexandra Burke as Svetlana, Murray Head as The Arbiter, Tim Howar as Freddie, Cassidy Janson as Florence and Philip Browne as Molokov.
Star-studded cast revealed for ENO’s Chess led by Ball, Burke, Head, Howar and Janson
The first West End production of Chess since 1986 is to star Michael Ball, Alexandra Burke, Murray Head, Tim Howar and Cassidy Janson.
NEWS: ENO announce the first major West End revival of Chess in over 30 years
CHESS, the epic musical love story set amid the tensions of a world championship chess match, will play at the London Coliseum for a strictly limited 5 week run from Thursday 26 April 2018, with a press night on Tuesday 1 May 2018. Tickets go on public sale on Friday 3 November from 10am.